Francis Nixon: The Life and Influence of Richard Nixon's Father
The personal history of Francis Nixon is a narrative of hardship, religious fervor, and complex family dynamics. From his early struggles with health and poverty to his role as a father to a future U.S. Vice President, Francis's life reflects the volatility of the early 20th-century American experience.
Early Struggles and the Move to California
Francis Nixon's journey to the West Coast was precipitated by a medical crisis. While working as a motorman in an open streetcar in Columbus, Ohio, he suffered from frostbite, which prompted his relocation to California at the end of the century. His early years in California were marked by a series of labor-intensive roles, including working as a farmhand and an oil field roustabout.
Seeking stability, Francis attempted to cultivate lemons outside Los Angeles. This interest in the citrus industry extended to his son, Richard, who, shortly after graduating from law school, founded the Citra-Frost Company in an attempt to produce and sell frozen orange juice.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Life in East Whittier
After the birth of Richard, Francis abandoned his lemon groves, and the family moved to the Quaker community of East Whittier, California. The Nixons operated two small businesses at the intersection of Whittier Boulevard and Santa Gertrudes Avenue: a grocery store and an Atlantic Richfield gasoline station. Despite these ventures, the family remained impoverished.
The household was fraught with tension. Francis has been described as a restless, frustrated, and angry man who psychologically abused and occasionally beat his five sons. In stark contrast, Richard Nixon consistently spoke highly of his parents, famously beginning his memoirs with the phrase, "I was born in a house my father built."
Interestingly, writer Jessamyn West, a cousin of the Nixons, recalled Francis as a "fiery persuasive teacher" during her time in his Sunday school class at the East Whittier Friends Church. She noted that his interpretation of the social gospel—a Christian movement emphasizing social justice—influenced her own leanings toward socialism.
Political Views and Religious Devotion
Francis was known for his passion for political debate, often engaging strangers in discussions at the family market. He held a strong intolerance for Democrats, though his voting record showed a variety of preferences over the decades:
- 1916: Woodrow Wilson
- 1920: Warren G. Harding
- 1924: Robert Lafollette
- 1928 & 1932: Herbert Hoover
- 1936: Franklin Roosevelt
The death of his son Arthur from tuberculosis in 1925 triggered a profound spiritual crisis. Francis became haunted by the idea that God had allowed the tragedy as a personal punishment. This led to a stricter religious regime in the home; he stopped opening the family store on Sundays and required his family to listen to sermons every evening. He was particularly fond of preachers Robert P. Shuler, Billy Sunday, and Aimee Semple McPherson.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Later Years and Final Days
In 1938, Richard met Pat Ryan. Francis reportedly developed a "playful relationship" with Pat, sparing her from the harsh criticisms he typically directed at his children. Later in life, Francis remained deeply concerned with his son's integrity; he was reportedly reduced to sobs and filled with anger upon hearing allegations that Richard had used a political fund for improper reimbursements.
In 1956, while Richard was serving as Vice President and involved with the Republican National Convention, the elder Nixons helped care for their granddaughters, Julie and Patricia. During this time, Francis suffered a ruptured abdominal artery. Despite his father's urging that he return to his political duties in San Francisco, Vice President Nixon curtailed his public appearances to remain by his father's side.
On September 3, Francis told Richard, "Good night Dick, but I don't think I'll be here in the morning." He passed away the following day and was buried three days later at the East Whittier Friends Meeting House.
Key Facts
- Relocation: Moved from Ohio to California after suffering frostbite as a streetcar motorman.
- Business Ventures: Operated a grocery store and an Atlantic Richfield gas station in East Whittier.
- Family Tragedy: Lost two sons, Arthur and Harold, to tuberculosis.
- Religious Influence: A Sunday school teacher whose views on the social gospel influenced cousin Jessamyn West.
- Political Leanings: A frequent debater who voted for a range of presidents from Wilson to Roosevelt.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Early Occupations | Motorman, farmhand, oil field roustabout |
| Business Interests | Lemon cultivation, grocery store, gasoline station |
| Community | East Whittier Quaker community |
| Key Religious Figures | Robert P. Shuler, Billy Sunday, Aimee Semple McPherson |
| Date of Death | September 4, 1956 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Francis Nixon move to California?
He relocated from Columbus, Ohio, after suffering from frostbite while working as a motorman in an open streetcar.
What businesses did the Nixon family operate in East Whittier?
The family ran a grocery store and an Atlantic Richfield gasoline station located at the corner of Whittier Boulevard and Santa Gertrudes Avenue.
How did the death of his son Arthur affect Francis?
He believed the death was a form of personal punishment from God, leading him to close the family store on Sundays and mandate nightly sermons for his family.
What was Francis Nixon's relationship with his children?
He is described as having been a mean-spirited father who psychologically abused and sometimes beat his five sons, although Richard Nixon publicly spoke well of him.
Who were the religious figures Francis Nixon admired?
He favored Robert P. Shuler, Billy Sunday, and Aimee Semple McPherson, often taking his sons to hear them preach at Trinity Methodist Church.